UW tops Big Ten in Kiplinger's best value ranking

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has again been named one of the 100 best values among public universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

UW-Madison is ranked 13th in the magazine's 2012 rankings, the highest of any Big Ten Conference university. Last year, UW-Madison was rated 14th. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was deemed the nation's top value among public universities.

Two other University of Wisconsin System campuses broke the top 100 best values list: UW-La Crosse at No. 62 and UW-Eau Claire at No. 82. The rankings will be detailed in Kiplinger's February issue.

Rankings are based on costs and academic measures using ACT and SAT test scores, admission and retention rates, student-faculty ratios and four- and six-year graduation rates. Schools are also ranked on affordability, total expenses and financial aid.

The magazine reviews data from more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities in determining the rankings.

"As states cut funding for higher education and tuition continues to climb, the word 'value' becomes more significant than ever," said Jane Bennett Clark, senior editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance. "This year's top 100 public schools deliver strong academics at reasonable prices. We applaud these institutions for tightening their belts without compromising quality."

UW-Madison has striven to maintain quality and affordability through difficult economic times, Provost Paul M. DeLuca Jr. said in a prepared statement.

"These rankings show we have been able to preserve the exceptional quality of education here at the university while remaining a good value for students," DeLuca said.

About Karen Herzog

Karen Herzog covers higher education. She also has covered public health and was part of a national award-winning team that took on Milwaukee's infant mortality crisis.